Death toll from Nepal-China border disaster rises to 633
Two days after a glacier collapse triggered deadly floods on the Nepal-China border, the confirmed death toll has climbed to 633, with nearly 3,000 people still unaccounted for. New flood threats are hampering rescue efforts.
The confirmed death toll from a disaster on the Nepal-China border rose to 633 on Saturday, while the number of missing people approached 3,000. The catastrophe was triggered by a glacier collapse that unleashed a massive flow of ice debris and mud — according to the US Geological Survey, it is Nepal's deadliest disaster since the 2015 earthquake.
The situation in Nepal
Nepali authorities reported 626 confirmed deaths within the country, while contact has been lost with 2,426 people, including 517 foreigners. Latvian nationals are among those reported missing. Indian authorities recovered the bodies of seven people from rivers flowing out of Nepal, believed to be flood victims.
The situation in China
In Tibet, according to China's state news agency Xinhua, seven people have died and 554 remain missing, including 260 foreigners. Local authorities evacuated 555 tourists and 499 residents from the affected area. In Gyirong county, the hardest-hit district, rescue operations were temporarily suspended on Friday due to the risk of new flooding.
Threats persist
The flow of ice and mud also formed large lakes, one of which directly threatens rescuers. Nepali police called on all rescue personnel to move immediately to safe ground after reports that a water dam had again burst on the Tibetan side. In total, 2,980 people remain unaccounted for across the two countries, and search operations continue.
